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There are some excellent sources of information on setting up a business in Canada and in Alberta.

• The Business Link is a resource for entrepreneurs and small and medium sized businesses in Alberta. The Business Link provides information on businesses start-up or you can download their PDF document, Guide for New Alberta Businesses: Start-Up.
• The Government of Canada's Invest in Canada site includes a section on establishing a business in Canada.
• Invest in Canada also provides links to several reference guides on doing business in Canada
• In Alberta, Service Alberta manages incorporation or registration of corporations, business names, and extra-provincial corporations. Service Alberta ministry  also licenses or registers diverse types of businesses in Alberta.

This information is provided as a useful guideline only; a lawyer should be consulted where appropriate.

Alberta provides investors with a consistently business friendly environment. For example, Alberta offers one of the most competitive business tax environments in North America.

• Alberta is the only province in Canada that does not have a provincial retail sales tax.
• Alberta has no provincial capital taxes, payroll taxes, or machinery and equipment taxes.
• Alberta's corporate income tax rate for general businesses is 10%, and 3% for small businesses.
• Alberta's combined federal/provincial corporate income tax rate for general business is 28%, and it is expected to decrease to 25% by 2012.
• Alberta's fuel taxes are among the lowest in Canada, at 9¢ per litre for gasoline or diesel.

Support in areas such as research and development, technology commercialization and access to capital are also available to Alberta businesses.

An example is the Alberta Scientific Development and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit. The Alberta SR&ED tax credit is worth 10% of a company's eligible expenditures, up to $4 million, for a maximum credit of $400,000.

Industry specific business resources are described in Alberta Industries. 

Alberta's international offices in Asia, Europe and North America promote the business interests of Alberta companies and support local companies exploring business opportunities in Alberta.

Services offered to local market businesses include:

• Information on Alberta companies and products
• Information on Alberta's economy, taxes and regulations
• Assistance connecting to Alberta suppliers of products, services and technologies
• Counseling for prospective investors on opportunities in Alberta
• Assistance in developing tailored agendas for business trips to Alberta

Services offered to Alberta businesses include:

• Market studies, market research reports, and market intelligence on opportunities for selected products and services
• Consulting on local business practices and advice on language and culture
• Identifying potential business partners and making business introductions
• Making arrangements for meetings, hotel accommodations and interpreters
• Information and assistance related to complying with government trade laws and regulations

These services are offered to businesses free of charge. For more information about the services provided by these offices, please see our list of international offices.

For advice on how to conduct a business visit to Alberta you can contact one of the Government of Alberta's trade and investment staff. Services available to companies visiting Alberta include assistance setting up meetings with relevant industry associations and Alberta companies, assistance putting together a visit itinerary and advice on Alberta business customs.
Alberta's international offices in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico and the U.S. are also available to assist local companies as they prepare to visit Alberta and will cooperate with Alberta staff to do so.

Opportunities for select industries are described on our Alberta Industries pages. Specific industries highlighted include:

• Aerospace & Defence
• Agri-food 
• Architecture, Engineering & Construction 
• Building Products 
• Chemicals & Petrochemicals
• Energy Commodities 
• Environmental Products and Services 
• Financial Services 
• Information and Communication Technologies 
• Life Sciences 
• Metal Fabrication & Machinery Manufacturing 
• Oil & Gas Technology Services 
• Tourism
• Transportation and Logistics

The Inventory of Major Alberta Projects lists major development projects in Alberta valued at $5 million or more that are planned, currently under construction or recently completed. Project data is obtained from public information sources. 

For construction-related business opportunities, please visit CoolNet Alberta and CoolNet Edmonton.

Alberta's industry associations are a great way to connect with local companies.

Industry directories are available to help you locate an Alberta Business:

• Alberta Business Directory
• Industry Canada's list of Industry Directories

Our trade and investment staff are available to assist you.

Employers interested in hiring temporary foreign workers are required to go through a specific process to bring them to Alberta. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is a federal program that is designed to meet temporary labour needs.

Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO) must be issued to the employer.  Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) is the Government of Canada agency that processes and assesses employers' applications to hire temporary foreign worker applications and issues Labour Market Opinions. HRSDC ensures that employers have made every effort to hire and train Canadian citizens or permanent residents and that hiring a foreign worker does not affect employment or career opportunities for Canadians and permanent residents.

Visit our immigration portal for more information on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Exemptions to the LMO requirement do exist. For example under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other free trade agreements. As well for three categories of people under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS): business visitors, professionals and intra-company transferees. For more information visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

For workers considering living permanently in Alberta the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) may be an option. The AINP is a joint effort by the governments of Alberta and Canada to help ensure that valued foreign workers sponsored by their employers can become permanent residents. Visit our immigration portal for more information about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program

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